Encourage expectant parents to visit the Aanganwadi as soon as they know they are expecting and get the Mother and Child Protection Card.

The purpose of this video is to encourage the community to take action to prevent malnutrition. It explains the use of the Mother & Child Protection Card: A simple yet powerful card that helps you to consistently monitor the nutrition and growth of your child.

It is intended for the community at large.

The Story:

In a village street market, an older man is buying vegetables and across the road he sees a young couple he knows. So he calls out and greets them, while walking across to meet with them. He asks the young man "So, the news is that you are about to become a father?" The young couple smile shyly.

He says "I hope you've got your card made." The young man replies "Ration card, right? Of course! I made it long ago."

The older man tells him not that card and the wife tells her husband he's inquiring about the Voter ID card, and replies that both of them have one. But the man again says "Not that card. I'm talking about the Mother and Child Protection Card." The couple asks him which card is that?

The older man explains "This is the card that keeps track of the mother and child's health; it also protects children from malnutrition." The couple nod happily.

That's right! Make sure you visit the Aanganwadi as soon as you know you're expecting and get your Mother and Child Protection Card. Also make sure you get your child weighed by the Aanganwadi every month till your child is 3 years old.

The Anganwadi Centre is the place to go and say malnutrition you are not welcome anymore.

Malnutrition is a lack of the right nutrients in the body.

A child is specially prone to the dangers of malnutrition from the time of its conception till two years of age. This is a very important period for overall long-term growth.

Malnutrition in India

Malnutrition in children and women remains as one of the greatest challenges in India. Malnutrition remains a major threat to the survival, growth and development of children.

Today, nearly every second child in India is a victim of malnutrition. It means they are physically and mentally weak due to which they are targets to many ailments, deformities, disabilities and allergies affecting normal growth mentally and physically. So we should jointly wage a war against malnutrition!